The 2015 Wake Forest football team opened training camp with a morning session on August 6.

Derrick Jackson is beginning his fourth season at Wake Forest after being retained by new head coach Dave Clawson. Jackson will once again work with the secondary.

Jackson’s secondary was the strength of Wake Forest’s 2014 team. Finishing 12th in the nation in passing yards allowed, the Deacons featured a pair of All-ACC selections in cornerbacks Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel. Johnson was a first round selection as a cornerback by the Houston Texans in the 2015 NFL Draft.

In his first season working with the secondary in 2013, Jackson led a unit that ranked as one of the best in the ACC, helping cornerback Kevin Johnson and safety Ryan Janvion earn honorable mention All-ACC honors. Janvion was also named to Athlon's Freshman All-America team and tied for third place in the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year voting. Senior safety A.J. Marshall also received an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Johnson had three interceptions and 12 pass breakups for a total of 15 passes defended - the second-most of any ACC player. Janvion impressed with a breakout freshman season, leading all Demon Deacons and finishing eighth in the ACC with 95 tackles.

As a whole, the defense improved from 91st to 38th nationally in scoring in 2013. The team also improved in passing yards allowed from 100th to 51st nationally.
Jackson coached the outside linebackers in his first season at Wake Forest in 2012. Under his instruction, junior Justin Jackson established himself as one of the top defensive players in the conference, leading the Demon Deacons with 81 tackles and four sacks. Senior Joey Ehrmann was also a disruptive force in opposing backfields, recording 10.5 tackles for loss to lead the team.

Justin Jackson ranked in the top 20 in the ACC in sacks, while Ehrmann was among the top 20 in the conference in tackles for loss.

Jackson coached the outside linebackers in his first season at Wake Forest in 2012. Under his instruction, junior Justin Jackson established himself as one of the top defensive players in the conference, leading the Demon Deacons with 81 tackles and four sacks. Senior Joey Ehrmann was also a disruptive force in opposing backfields, recording 10.5 tackles for loss to lead the team.

Justin Jackson ranked in the top 20 in the ACC in sacks, while Ehrmann was among the top 20 in the conference in tackles for loss.

Jackson came to Wake Forest from Rice where he coached the defensive line in 2010.

At Rice, Jackson coached Scott Solomon to a career high 8.5 sacks during a year which saw the senior pick up second team All C-USA honors and a nod as one of 19 finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award (given to the nation's top defensive end).

Prior to Rice, Jackson coached the Akron defensive line in 2010 and mentored Second Team All-MAC selection Shawn Lemon, who finished first in the MAC and fourth nationally with four fumbles recovered, fourth in the MAC in fumbles caused (3) and seventh in the MAC in sacks (7).

Jackson spent the previous three years (2007-09) coaching the defensive line at Syracuse, and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator for the 2008 season. While with the Orange, Jackson coached Chandler Jones to national all-freshman honors in 2009. Jones went on to be drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. He also helped Arthur Jones establish himself as a feared defensive lineman, earning All Big EAST honors in three consecutive seasons (twice named first team). Jones finished the 2007 season ranked ninth in the nation with 17.5 tackles for loss and was a fifth round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2010 NFL Draft.

During Jackson's last season at Syracuse, the Orange tied for sixth nationally in sacks and ranked 13th in the nation in rush defense, including a game in which they held the Akron Zips to zero net yards on the ground.

After a stint as the defensive tackles coach at Northern Illinois in 2005, where he coached Quince Holman to a First Team All-MAC selection, Jackson became the defensive line coach at Michigan State in 2006. While with the Spartans, he helped the defense hold their opponents to just eight rushing touchdowns during the 2006 season. Jackson also helped tutor three future NFL Draft picks (Ervin Baldwin, Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Cliff Ryan) while with MSU.

Eastern Illinois was Jackson's first stop in Illinois, where he spent two seasons from 2003-04. At EIU, defensive tackle Marcus Lorick was named a second team All-American and defensive end Kory Lothe led the conference in sacks (2004). The Panthers were ranked 18th nationally in defense during the 2004 season.
From 2001-02 he worked with the defensive line at Army, where he coached Clarence Holmes to a school single-season and career record for sacks as well as Brandon Perdue - a first team Academic All-American.

Jackson's first coaching stop was at West Georgia where he spent two seasons (1999-2001) tutoring the tight ends.

At Duke, Jackson started 40 consecutive games at safety for the Blue Devils and finished his career with 262 tackles and six interceptions. He started as a redshirt freshman on the 1989 Duke team that posted an 8-4 record, claimed a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and earned a trip to the All-American Bowl. He was selected as the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Back in both 1991 and 1992.

He graduated from Duke in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in history. His wife, the former Renae Stahl, is also a 1993 Duke graduate and is originally from Defiance, Ohio. Renae was a standout long jumper with the Blue Devil track & field team and was a 1999 inductee into the Defiance High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Following his graduation from Duke, Jackson spent six years in the private sector before embarking on his coaching career in 1999.

As a prep, Jackson lettered in three sports - football, basketball and track - while attending West Morris High School in Chester, N.J. As a senior, Jackson helped West Morris to a 9-2 record and a second place finish in the Group III state playoffs while earning first team all-state honors from the New Jersey Football Coaches Association. He was a three-year letterman and finished his career seventh all-time in scoring.

The Derrick Jackson File

Birthdate

January 16, 1970

Hometown

Cincinnati, Ohio

Wife

Renae

Children

Twins, Alana Mae and Dakota John

Alma Mater

Duke, 1993

Degree

B.A. in History

Playing Background

Started 40 straight games at safety for the Blue Devils and finished his career with 262 tackles and six interceptions. Selected team's Most Outstanding Defensive Back in 1991 and 1992.